Continental panel makers have started investing in flexible OLED devices one after another, and it seems that they are interested in skipping hard panels to directly develop flexible OLED panels. According to ET News, Tianma and Guoxian Photoelectric have already conducted equipment tenders in order to establish a flexible OLED production line; BOE and Huaxing Optoelectronics originally planned to invest in the 8th generation LCD production line, and it seems to be suspended for the time being. It is intended to be completed before the end of 2016. Engaged in new flexible OLED investment.

In the first half of 2015, mainland-based panel maker Tianma invested RMB 12 billion in Wuhan to build the 6th generation low temperature polycrystalline silicon (LTPS) LCD production line, but recently decided to transform part of it into a flexible AMOLED production line. The target is It will be put into production in the second half of 2017.

Guoxian Optoelectronics has decided to invest RMB 4.53 billion in Kunshan to increase the sixth generation of LTPS-based AMOLED equipment in Kunshan. Following the first phase of investment in early 2016, Guoxian Optoelectronics decided to invest in the second phase to accelerate the expansion of the AMOLED business.

Guoxian Optoelectronics is a joint venture company established between Visconnano and the mainland government to produce small and medium sized OLED panels. It is rumored that China Optoelectronics is actively evaluating that it will invest in the 6th generation of AMOLED equipment in Qingdao in the second half of 2016.

China Star Optoelectronics has almost completed the investment in the sixth generation of LTPS-based LCD and AMOLED equipment in Wuhan. Previously, China Star Optoelectronics decided to conduct the second phase of the 8.5-generation investment in Shenzhen. It was originally based on LCD. At present, it has decided to change to a flexible metal-oxide-based OLED in parallel with AMOLED, and is bidding for equipment suppliers. In addition, there will be new flexible OLED investment plans before the end of 2016.

BOE has already launched the flexible OLED production line (B7) investment in Qingdao, aiming to establish a 45,000th flexible 6th generation OLED panel production capacity per month in 2019 with an investment scale of RMB 24.5 billion. The industry speculates that BOE should invest in two phases in 2016.

It is rumored that BOE is evaluating the possibility of converting the 8th generation LCD production line into a flexible OLED production line (provisional B11). The industry believes that the recent BOE should make a final decision. In addition, the industry is also concerned about whether BOE will continue to invest 5.5 generations of AMOLED equipment in its 5.5-generation B6 production line in Ordos, Inner Mongolia.

According to IHS data, Samsung Display shipped 88.75 million units in the global OLED market in the first quarter of 2016, with a market share of 97.7%; Lehman's displays ranked at a market share of 0.9%. Second, AUO ranked third with 0.7%.

Some mainland panel makers also produce small-sized hard OLED panels in small quantities, but their yield and output are insufficient to pose a threat to Samsung monitors. However, the cost of equipment for flexible OLEDs is higher than that of hard OLEDs, and the technical difficulty is not to mention. Therefore, when mainland Chinese panel makers invest heavily in flexible OLED panels before achieving stable production rates of hard OLEDs, Korea The industry has doubts about the mainland strategy.

The South Korean industry said that even if advanced equipment and raw materials imported from foreign countries are used, if the panel makers have insufficient technological capabilities, it is difficult to manufacture high-quality panels through the production line. While mainland Chinese companies are quick to invest in flexible OLEDs, they are still under pressure, but their products still have to be judged by the yield and quality of actual production.